851 - Backing up and restoring advanced file types in ESE

Reparse points

Items such as symlinks and junctions are backed up, and can therefore be restored, if they are included in the backup selection. 

Note: Junctions will be included in the backup selection if their parent folder is included.

(For a full list of supported reparse points, please refer to this MSDN article.)

Simple hard links

When a hard link has been included in the backup, the data it points to is backed up.

Simple compressed files

These are files compressed by the operating system (unlike zip-type files) and are only restored in uncompressed form.

Simple encrypted files

These are files encrypted by the operating system and are only restored in unencrypted form.
Note:

• To prevent these files from being skipped during a backup, the Agent service must run as the same user that encrypted the files. See Article 418 on how to change service permissions.
• Once backed up, these files can be restored regardless of which user the Agent service is running as. 

Simple sparse files

These files are restored consuming their full file size.